NEW DELHI: The
Coast Guard has re-launched its long-standing project to acquire 14 heavy twin-engine
helicopters worth over Rs 2,000 crore after its last attempt failed amid allegations of wrongdoings and leak of classified information.
The Coast Guard has issued a global
RFI (request for information) or preliminary tender for the 14 helicopters for “maritime surveillance, interdiction and search-and-rescue operations, with the capability to stage through operations from its advanced offshore patrol vessels”, said officials.
The helicopters, which should be able to carry around 30 people, must be equipped with the requisite weather-cum-surveillance radars, electro-optical/infrared devices, rescue hoists and the like, said the RFI.
This comes after the almost finalized deal for 14 twin-engine EC-725 tactical choppers from Airbus was scrapped in the final stages earlier this year. For one, Airbus refused to extend its commercial bid beyond February 15, after having done so nine times earlier. More importantly, an anonymous
whistleblower had alleged graft in the helicopter deal in a letter, with several classified documents attached to it, written to the defence ministry.
